Many patients, and potential patients, are unhappy with the appearance of their smiles. Some have the financial ability and the enthusiasm to improve their smiles through orthodontics, veneers, and crowns; far more cannot afford the expensive longer-term treatment that is necessary. Or at least, cannot justify the time and money simply because they cannot imagine … Read more
How many of the procedures learned in dental school are you still using today? Whether you graduated 30, 20, 10, or even two years ago, chances are that your techniques and materials are vastly different. While school provides the basic foundations and theoretical concepts for many of the disciplines in dentistry, it is in publications … Read more
The oral cavity is a difficult area to treat in restorative dentistry because of the constraints of the lips, tongue, cheeks, challenges for access to visualize and manipulate instruments, as well as, the position of the teeth that are being treated relative to the gingival tissues, which if improperly managed, bleed. While for operative dentistry … Read more
When was the last time you gave any thought to your vacuum system? Probably not once since it was bought and installed and probably not again until it needs replacement. Do you ever hear your suction, smell your suction, does it ever produce inadequate force to allow all the practitioners in the practice to operate … Read more
Today’s dentist is facing an unprecedented economic challenge. Just five years ago, missing cusps and ultra-wide box forms would call for an indirect restoration. Onlays and full crowns that frequently commanded a hefty insurance co-payment were well within reach of the average patient. The political expression, “it’s the economy stupid”, has dental ramifications that stress … Read more
From time to time I find a dental article about the importance of having a ‘blueprint’ in regards to the desired result of cosmetic treatment. I’ve yet to read one as thorough and well-laid out as Dr. Mechanic’s article in the April Oral Health. So much of what he says is perfectly logical and makes … Read more
We would like to inform readers that 2011 will be the final year of the SLSA program in Oral Health. The program for 2011 will consist of 20 items. We will publish four items every other month with an 8-question Quiz appearing in the November 2011 issue. Because the program is half its usual length, … Read more
ASSOCIATIONSAssociation O Dental Technologists Of OntarioThe official voice of Registered Dental Technologists in Ontariowww.ADTO.org Canadian Dental Protective AssociationBecause bad things happen to good dentists.www.cdpa.com Ontario Academy Of General DentistryQuality of care through life long learning.www.ontarioagd.org Toronto Academy Of DentistryToronto Meetings Calendar, CE, Winter Clinic, Society Listings, etc.www.tordent.com CONTINUING EDUCATION: Faculté Of Orthodontic Research & Cont. Ed.Lectures and … Read more
Dentists have long advocated that protective mouthpieces be worn during active, and particularly contact sports. The mouth guard separates the arches by inserting a secured cushioning device around the teeth. Not only the does the mouth guard protect the integrity of the teeth from inadvertent crushing occlusal forces, but also acts as a shock absorber … Read more
Chicago, June 6, 2012 – The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) commends Senator Bernard Sanders, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, and Congressman Elijah Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for their leadership on oral health issues by introducing the Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of … Read more
IntroductionTraumatic facial injuries are commonplace in North America. Interpersonal violence, falls, motor vehicle crashes and sport related injuries make up the majority of etiologies for these injuries.1 Since the advent of seat belts and air bags, there has been a significant decline in severe facial trauma as was seen in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.2 … Read more
INTRODUCTION Methadone is a synthetic opioid that was developed as an analgesic by German scientists during World War II. It has been used as part of the treatment for opioid addicted patients since the 1960s. More recently, methadone has been used as an analgesic for the management of various chronic pain conditions. Methadone’s special pharmacologic … Read more
INTRODUCTIONAirway management for maxillofacial trauma is often complicated by distortion of the airway from the injury, emergent management for impending compromise, and other serious co-existing injuries. While traditionally the use of nasal intubations and tracheostomies are preferred, we discuss the use of retromolar and submental intubation techniques as alternative airway management strategies. Additionally, we will … Read more
Carcinoma of the lips is the most common malignant tumour of the oral cavity.1 In a large review of 1,252 patients, 96.7 percent were found in males and 95.6 percent of cases involved the lower lip.2 Prolonged exposure to sunlight and outdoor occupations are known major etiological factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the lips.3,4 … Read more
Since the Second World War, the scope and complexity of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in North America has steadily progressed beyond the practice of exodontia. Significant advances were made in the medical and surgical management of victims of trauma, temporomandibular disorders, and treatment of dentofacial deformities, infections and oral pathology, as well as reconstructive procedures … Read more
INTRODUCTIONBacteria in the root canal system provoke the formation of periapical inflammatory lesions.1 The aim of root canal treatment is to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal and to prevent re-infection. Biomechanical cleaning and shaping of the root canal greatly reduces the number of bacteria.2 Nevertheless, studies have shown that bacteria often persist.3 Therefore, … Read more
A Paradigm Shift in Endodontics
INTRODUCTION Instruments shape and irrigants clean, right? That may sound good as an advertising slogan but we have to dig a bit deeper for the whole truth. There is a widely held belief that most endodontic failures are caused by inadequate cleaning, debridement and disinfection, especially when it occurs in the apical third of the … Read more
